Impact absorbing safety device



March 22, 1960 c. G. PAPAcosTA IMPACT ABsoRBING SAFETY DEVICE 2Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed March 25, 1959 FIG. 3

4 m. Ll

INVENTOR. COA/5'7J4N77A/f 6. lPA COSTA BY M M AGENT IMPACT ABSORBINGSAFETY DEVICE Filed March 25, 1959 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR.CO/VSMNT/VE G. [7A/94605734 AGEA/1' United States Patent O IMPACTABSORBING SAFETY DEVICE Constantine George Papacosta, Brooklyn, N .Y.

Application March 25, 1959, Serial No. 801,804

4 Claims. (Cl. 280-29) This invention relates to a novel device whichwill protect passengers in autos, boats, airplanes, etc. from theeffects of a collision by an impact absorbing device.

Although the device is hereinafter described in connection with apassenger vehicle, it obviously can be used in other means oftransportation such as boats, elevators, trains, airplanes, etc.

According to the instant invention the impact energy is used to raisethe vehicular occupants out of harms way by pneumatic means. This isaccomplished by the projection of a piston in front of the vehicle whenthe operator realizes that a collision is about to occur. The piston isfirst to contact the obstruction and forced by such contact to telescopeback into the vehicle. This telescopic movement is used to pneumaticallyraise the central portion of the vehicle in which the passengers areseated to a position above the body of the vehicle. Thus when the frontend of the vehicle crashes into the obstruction, the passengers havebeen moved to a relatively safe position above the body of the vehicle.Consequently the ensuing damage to the body is much less likely toinvolve the occupants. Although the passengers are not directly in thepath of the damage occurring from the collision, there is still dangerfrom the sudden stoppage of the vehicle. This danger is reduced bycausing the raised portion of the vehicle in which the passengers areseated to rotate upon the occurrence of a collision as will be describedin more detail.

' Consequently the primary object ofthis invention is the provision of avehicle which upon the occurrence of a collision will absorb part of theimpact energy to raise the occupants out of harms way and thereby reducethe damage wrought by the collision.

Another object of this invention isla device which will utilize theimpact energy of a collision to move the occupants out of harms waywhereby the extent of such movement is a function of the speed of thevehicle prior to the collision.

Additional inventive objects and -novel features will be made clearer inthe ensuing detailed description, claims and Vattached drawingsin which:

Figure 1 is a side elevation of a passenger vehicle with the side of thebody removed to show details of the novel safety device.

Figure 2 is a similar view showingthe device in operation with theenergy absorbing piston being released.

Figure 3 is a side view of the safety mechanism in the next progressivestep at the moment the piston encounters an obstruction.

Fig. 3A is a blown-up side view of the upstanding post and the slidablehollow post thereon. Figure 4 is a view similar to Figures 1 and 2showin the nal step in the sequence when the collision has occurred andthe occupants have been moved out of the line of the collision.

2,929,637 Patented Mar. 22, 1960 Figure 5 is a horizontal section takenalong plane 5-5 of Figure 4 showing details of the safety compartmentprior to collision.

Figure 6 vshows the compartment of Figure 5 undergoing rotation as aresult of a collision.

Figures 7, 8 and 9 are elevations of the steering column showing detailsof its collapsible nature.

Referring now to Figure l, a passenger vehicle 10 is seen provided withan escape compartment 11 comprising a platform 12 having seats 13, 14,15 and 16 mounted on the platform (see also Figure 5). The platform 12is integrally attached to a hollow post 17 which is slidingly mounted ona shaft 18 rigidly aiiixed to the chassis 19 by a fixture 20 at anapproximately central location in the vehicular body. The superstructureof compartment 11, including the roof, windows, etc. is integral withpost 17 at its upper end. In the normal position, the lower peripheraledge 21 of compartment 11 rests in a sealed groove 22 of the lower iixedbody portion 23.

As better seen in Figure 3A, the lower portion of shaft 18 is hollow toform a passageway 24 with exit ports 25 communicating with a space 26.The upper end of space 26 is sealed by a wall 27, integral with post 17and the other end by a shoulder 28 projecting integrally from shaft 18.It should be noted that although shaft 17 is reciprocally disposedrelative to shoulder 28 and shaft wall 27 is reciprocally disposedrelative to shaft 18, the sliding interfaces in these areas are soconstructed that the passage of air there-between is prevented. Thus itis seen that the entry of air from passageway'24 into space 26 willcreate pressure on wall 27 thereby causing its upward motion :alongshaft 13. vWall 27 and shoulder 28 also function as guides during suchmovement.

It should be understood that' although air is mentioned here as themedium for causing the ascent of the safety compartment, other uids suchas water, oil, alcohol etc. can obviously be employed without involvinginventive faculties.

Air or other suitable uid medium is introduced to the passageway 24 bymeans of a conduit 29 (Figure 1) connected to fitting 20 at one end andto a cylinder 30 at its other end. A piston 31 is mounted in cylinder 30and is caused to reciprocate therein when a collision occurs as will beexplained. A check valve 32 is mounted' in the end wall of cylinder 30to permit the entryof air into the cylinder when piston 31 moves awayfrom valve 32 just prior to collision. `When the collision occurs,piston 31 is actuated towards Valve 32 causing its closure and thepassage of air under pressure into conduit 29 and then into shaftpassageway 24 ultimately resulting in the upward movement of compartment11.

Itis desirable that the extent of the upward movement of compartment 11be directly related to the magnitude of the collision. Since the forceof the collision is a function of the speed of the vehicle, theinvention includes a means for raising the escape compartment a distancevarying in accordance with the speed of the vehicle. Thus when acollision is anticipated at low speeds, the escape compartment will beraised a smaller distance; at higher speeds a larger distance. Therelationship rbetween `the vehicular speed and the extent of verticalmovement of the escape compartment is thus controlled in a predeterminedfashion as will be now described.

Piston 31 extends through a guide 33 and is rigidly attached at itsforward end to a bar 34 which is pro- *jabuts bar 34 at one end andYguide 33 at the other end thereby biasing bari 34 and piston 31forward. A stop ymoved forward, a cylinder 40 is provided and a piston41 rigidly secured to bar 34 Yis mounted for reciprocationvin saidcylinder 40', f Thus the forwafrdrmovement of'bar "34 is dependent uponthe resistance that-the pressure in cylinder 40 presents to lthe forwardmove'- ment of piston 41. The pressure in cylinder 4 0Yis controlled byanair reservoir 42 provided with abuttery valve 43 Yat one'endV normallyspring pressed to la closed position. T o Y'relieve the pressure incylinder 4 0r and reservoir 42, the valve 431can be opened by actuatinga pedal 44, adjacent Vthe operator. Actuation of pedal 44 via `linkage45 opens valve 43, relieves the air pressure in 42 and cylinder 40 in asmuch ast42 Yand40 are in communication through a conduit 46. f Q

Thus when the operator ac tuatesY pedal 38, spring 36 will force V'bar34'to a predetermined lforward'posi- Y Vtion. depending upon Ythe normalvpressure "in cylinder y40.V Should the operator desire to Yprojecrtbar34 to a more forward `position,fthat is When'a more Ysevere'impactisranticipated, the pedal 44 is also actuated thereby relieving pressurein reservoir 42 andcylinder 40,;Y permitting a more forward movement ofbar 34 for purposes as will now be described.

A :bumper 47 is gidly Iattached.ytothe bar 34 for making the initialcontact Ywith the obstruction causing the collision. Thus Ywhen bumper47 Yhas been extended as seen in Figures Zjand 3, it will'V engagetheobstrucj 'tion 48 and be driven towards the vehicle.'- This rearwardmovementof the bumper causes the'pistonl to force air in cylinder 3 0against ',valve 32 andto `eiect its closure. Air underfpressu're is thenforced nthrough conduit 29 and shaftlS V'causing the ascent 'of escapecompartment 1 1 as described before.

The extent of the ascent of'th escapecompartment 1 I' v is proportionalto the rearward motion of piston 31V and bumper 47 dnringthe collision.T hus yther'distance which bumper 47 has been projected forward prior tothe collision is a measure of the height that escape corn-V partment 11will attain. Also the height that the escape f Vcompartment will attainis a measure of the amount of `impact energy absorbed harmlessly by saiddevice. Consequently when the operator'realizes thatanimpact ofrelatively,largeV proportions is about to occur, he actuates both pedals44`and 38 whereby the bumper is projected a greater distance inreadiness to absorb a greater impact. By means of well known devices,the pressure Ain reservoir 42 can be controlled vresponsive tothe speedVv 11, the sudden stoppage that occurs during Vthe collision `can causeinjury to the passengers in the seats. YTo

further absorb such energyY in a safe manner, provision has been madeherein to transformsome of the precollision linear kinetic energy intopost collision rotational kinetic energy; that i's, the platform-andseats arecaused to .rotate about the shaft 18. To ,accomplish thispurpose, seats 13 and 14 (see Figures S'andl 1) are made heavier byweights .than seats'15 and 16.' 1. The weighted seats are .crosshatchedthe center of mass is not coincidentwith the center of rotation (shaft18) and -a torqueY is developed when the vehicle'is stopped causing aclockwise rotation as depicted in Figure 6.

VBecause the steering wheel `and column-may obstruct the escapingmovement of the operator, a novel steering Wheel construction isprovided as seen in Figures 7,/8 `and 9.-y The column comprises threehinged sections 575, 56 57. A three hinged sleeve V58, V,59 lvis mounteds lidably over the column. In `the normal 'position the sleever -isYretained between pins 61 and 6 2 ina position wherein the columnhingesare overlapped 'bythe sleeves retaining the column i'rrrig'idVaxial alignment. Pin 62 is retractible whereby it canbe depressed vAdetailed sequential description of theY operation is asf follows: Y

The operator realizing that .a collision 1s imminent depresses pedal 38, whichireleases ,bar 34 causing spring 36 to project bumper 47 ,t oYtbe forward pesitionshown in Figure 2.' VWhen bumper"47 contacts wall 48,"i t is driven back intor cylindert).4 moi/erneutk causes Vthe releaseof ange 49 by'theinteraction of dog 54 and lever l5 3 on latch 50.VvContinuedl rearwardmotion'of 'piston 31 closes valve 32 and'buildsuppressurein space 26 on wall 27,y thereby` causing the lascent Yofcompartf ment 11. Finally the vehicle itself crashes Vin to wall .48 andthe complete` stoppage sends the e centrical ly Y weighted and nowVelevated seats in to rotation to further expend the energy'harmlessly.jErior-t o co1 lisio Vthe operator realizing that hisl speed is quite Al:iigh :an.

' optionallyactuate pedalV 44to 'relievepressure in cylinder 40'therebyincreasingA the forward projectionY of l' bumper 47 and the'resultantgreater ascent and energy ofthe vehicular wheels to vcause a" specificpressure corresponding to a specific speedf-This may bedone byconnecting the valve- 43, directlyv with' the'speedo'meter cable Vthusproviding an automatic regulation of the pressure in reservoir 42 in aninverse relationship with the vehicular speed. In order to preventunwanted up' and down `motion -in abutment with the upper end of thedog. Uponimf pact the teeth V are Vdriven rearward `causing the clock- Lwise rotation'of dog54 and the counter clockvi/ise rotation of lever 53as seen inFigure. This movement absorbing Capacity Of fheiescapecompartment.

- vIt-is-thus'seen that byv using a-Substantial poriinfof th:kineticnrgy atk impact to raise the iespe ,compartmentgthresultantf-dauiageto the .vehiclefis reducedvas well as removingthepassengrs to a'rsaferezoneabove theV direct axis'of inipact'forces.The rotationof the seat is a further Vmeans of cushioning the-shockfandv absorbing energyy in, a less harmful manner..v

Har/inv described in ,detaiiifthe nature .offrhis 'inyen `tion, a* grantof LettersPatentisv desired ffor ythe novel Y features as .expressed intitle;following claims;` L

. Y,fof seats 13,14, 15 and V16 during normal travel, po'st f 17,7V 'isYprovided with a ange 49 atits lower end vwhich normally engages falatch r5t) and is so prevented VVfrom moving upward. Latch 50 isslidablyrrn'ounted'fin at 1. An impact absorbing safety device `for Yanautomobile,xccmprisingfa vehicular body having means for propulsionandan escape compartment adapted to carry passengers, said compartmentbeing movable tromba nor'- f t mal p'osition-withinjsaid Vbody Ywhereinthe, compartment Y Aexterior contours are continuous with and arean'intel rgralportion of the body contours, to aY positimL projectingsubstantially outside of thebodygincoinbination Y,with means forretaining saidcmpartmenteinlthedirst said position, and meansferreleasingthe secondfsaid means and moving ,the -Saidrwmpartmenf the.,Sessa@ saidl position when theV bodycollides with an ',externakobstruction, wherein impact energy is used byY said means to effect themovement of the compartment to the second said position, saidcompartment comprising a platform with passenger seats and the vehicularbody includes a vertical shaft upon which the platform is centrallymounted in slidable fashion.

2. A device as in claim 1, wherein the platform includes a centralhollow post slidably mounted on the shaft and the third said meansincludes a means for contacting the external obstruction before thebody, said third means being movable by such contact to actuate theplatform to the second said position of safety.

3. A device as in claim 1, wherein the platform is rotatably mounted onthe shaft and includes weights so distributed relative to the shaft axisthat the exertion of forces on the platform transverse to the shaft axisdue to momentum will cause the platform to spin about the axis when itis in the second said position.

4. An impact absorbing device for a vehicle comprising a vehicular bodywith means for propulsion and an escape compartment adapted to carrypassengers, said compartment being movable from a normal positioncontiguous with the contours of the body to an escape positionsubstantially outside the contines of the body, in combination withmeans normally retaining the compartment in the rst position and meansfor releasing the second said means permitting movement of thecompartment, including means movable from an internal position in thebody to an external position ahead of the body, the fourth said meansbeing manually operable from the internal to the external position, saidfourth means being connected to the compartment whereby movement of thefourth said means from the external position to the internal positioncauses the compartment to move from its position in the body to theescape position outside the body.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS2,379,385 Styers June 26, 1945 2,517,860 Forgy Aug. 8, 1950 FOREIGNPATENTS 75,057 Austria Dec. 10, 1918 1,122,195 France May 14, 1956

